TORS OF DARTMOOR
a database of both lesser- & well-known rocks and outcrops
Shaptor RockShaptor Rocks, Shap Tor, Shap Tor Rock, Sharp Tor, Sharptor Rock
 This is a stupendous tor crowning the wood of the same name with magnificent views over the Wray Valley and across to Trendlebere Down and Haytor Rocks. The summit culminates in a huge flat bedrock of granite that in winter months is visible from Bovey Tracey and other locations further afield, such as from Rydonball to the west of Abbotskerswell.  The best part of Shaptor Rock is actually from the underside just above the path heading west from Shaptor Farm where the outcrop presents as a bulbous, rounded mass towering above the onlooker; it is draped in decorative green moss that creates a wonderful effect along with the repetitive horizontal jointings in the Rock.  William Crossing, in 'Amid Devonia's Alps' (1888), is one of the first authors to comment, albeit briefly, on this area and uses the name of 'Sharp Tor', stating that the tor is sometimes known as 'Shap Tor'. Later, in his 'Guide to Dartmoor' (1909), he uses the name of 'Shap Tor Rock' where he pays more attention to the aforementioned views than the tor itself; "The view from this is very fine, particularly that towards Lustleigh." 
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
